Workplace Responsibilities and Injury Prevention

Everyone has a role in preventing injuries from hazardous manual tasks. Employers must manage workplace health and safety risks, while workers must take reasonable care of their own safety and avoid negatively affecting others.

Employer responsibilities

Employers should:

  • Identify hazardous manual tasks and assess their risks.

  • Eliminate risks where reasonably practicable.

  • Provide suitable equipment, safe systems of work and adequate space.

  • Maintain and inspect mechanical aids.

  • Provide appropriate information, training and supervision.

  • Consult workers when identifying hazards and selecting controls.

  • Review controls when tasks, equipment or conditions change.

Worker responsibilities

Workers should:

  • Follow reasonable safety instructions and workplace procedures.

  • Use equipment correctly and only when trained.

  • Follow individual care and mobility plans.

  • Complete a risk assessment before beginning a task.

  • Request assistance when a task cannot be completed safely.

  • Report hazards, damaged equipment, incidents and near misses.

  • Participate in training and workplace safety consultation.

Preventing injuries

Training alone cannot make a hazardous task safe. Risks should first be eliminated or reduced through improved task design, suitable equipment, safer work areas and effective procedures.

Early reporting is important. Stop the task and report pain, discomfort or warning signs such as stiffness, tingling, numbness, weakness or swelling. Prompt reporting allows the workplace to review the task and arrange appropriate support.

Example

A worker experiences shoulder discomfort while repeatedly moving supplies. Instead of continuing, the worker stops and reports the problem. The workplace reviews the task, provides a trolley and changes the storage height to reduce reaching and lifting.

Workers must follow their organisation’s reporting procedures. Employers are responsible for notifying the relevant regulator about legally notifiable incidents according to the requirements applying in their state or territory.

Last modified: Friday, 11 September 2026, 12:45 PM